Theft of packages has turned out to be one of the most annoying issues to the people of Los Angeles. Each day, deliveries are lost on porches, lobbies and mail rooms. This issue is magnified by the holiday season throughout the entire city in all its neighborhoods. The question is how to prevent package theft? It not only protects your deliveries but your peace of mind as well. This guide discusses 12 effective tips which really work with both home owners and property managers. We will discuss the intelligent delivery habits, upscale security steps that thwart thieves. At the conclusion you will have a concise practical action plan that is ready to be put into practice now.
Why Package Theft Spikes During the Holiday Season
The Delivery Volume Problem
Holiday shopping generates a huge residential delivery spurt of Los Angeles annually. The greater the number of packages, the more chances there are that the porch pirates will be able to locate easy and unmonitored targets in the shortest possible time. Thieves target neighbourhoods in particular in November and December when delivery trucks are working 24-7. Moreover, when packages accumulate, residents tend to be out of town visiting family and are not present during the very time packages accumulate.
Who Targets LA Homes and Apartments
The opportunistic individuals and organized groups that include several neighborhoods are the thieves of packages in Los Angeles. Organized crews trail behind delivery trucks and attack everything in a matter of minutes when a package is left uncontended. Especially popular targets are apartment buildings that have unsecured lobbies and unattended mailroom areas. Moreover, the presence of high-density residential buildings provides thieves with dozens of possible victims in one building. Knowledge of the attackers of these properties will assist the residents and managers to take appropriate prevention strategies.
Tip 1: Need a Signature for Deliveries
A signature would mean that no packages are lying on your doorstep or in a lobby unattended. Delivery signature is a free or low-cost option with most major carriers, and is required when ordering. This one action will remove the gap of opportunity that porch pirates fully depend on. You must be at home, however, or get someone to sign your name. This is a truly effective method when you schedule the delivery at a time when you are sure you won’t be away.
Tip 2: Use Package Lockers and Secure Delivery Boxes
The package lockers have emerged as one of the best solutions that can be applied to apartment buildings. Amazon, UPS, and other transportation companies now provide locker delivery in thousands of places throughout Los Angeles. Couriers have secure delivery boxes installed at the residential properties which provide them with a locked drop point on each delivery. This means that even thieves will not be able to get the package even when they reach the place as soon as the courier is gone. With shared package lockers installed by property managers, theft complaints among residents are greatly minimized in their buildings.
Tip 3: Schedule Deliveries When You’re Home
By ensuring that the deliveries are scheduled at a time when you are home, you would have removed most chances of theft right away. The idea of having a narrow delivery window has become common in most of the big carriers via their apps and notification systems. In case of schedule changes, you can redirect packages to the closest pickup points. Moreover, requesting a friend of the house to pick up packages on your behalf during your absence is an added protection. This easy scheduling tip is free and helps to avoid most opportunistic package theft cases.
Tip 4: Install a Video Doorbell or Security Camera
Video doorbells will discourage theft by the appearance of cameras and motion detection in real-time. Having noticed a camera, thieves would usually proceed to an easier target that is not closely guarded within proximity. Police reports and insurance claims are also backed by high-definition footage in case of theft. Moreover, intelligent cameras will notify your phone immediately that a delivery is at your door. In the case of apartment buildings, the cameras that watch over the front door of the lobbies and the mail rooms cover the entire occupancy base of the building simultaneously.
Tip 5: Add Motion-Activated Lighting at Entry Points
Motion-dependent lighting of the front door, walks, and drop packages areas eliminates that benefit instantly. Flashing lights can be a sure way of scaring off the person who has bad motives to enter your premises. Also, illuminated access points ensure that the footage taken by security cameras is much better and more useful to identify. This is an inexpensive upgrade that is especially effective when used along with cameras that are scanning the same areas at the same time.
Tip 6: Request Discreet Packaging When Possible
Boxes with the brand name of a costly electronics or luxury product will gain much more attention compared to unadorned packages. Most retailers have come out with the option of having discreet or plain packaging at the point of check out. By making these choices, you do not have your delivery declare its contents to all the people that pass through your property. Moreover, it is possible to reduce the risk of targeting by not leaving packages with the exposed brand logos unattended during hours.
Tip 7: Use a P.O. Box or Work Address for precious Items
Home delivery risk is removed completely through routing of high-value deliveries to a P.O. box or secure workplace address. Post office boxes are cheap, readily available and regulated in a safe place 24/7. Most offices have receptionists who collect and take deliveries during the working hours. Moreover, there are other UPS and FedEx offices that provide mailbox services including package acceptance as part of the package. This is the most reasonable approach to use with high-value goods that would be a big loss in case they are stolen.
Tip 8: Build a Relationship With Your Neighbors
The connected neighborhood is, in fact, one of the best theft deterrents of any community. Known neighbors are far more reliable in detecting strangers and suspicious behavior. Establishing a group chat or an app to join a neighborhood links neighbors that will be able to notify one another about suspicious behavior. Moreover, requesting a particular neighbor to collect your packages when you are out of town develops a personal, trusted network. Communities that reside in apartment buildings can gain a lot when property managers promote such a type of resident interaction and communication.
Tip 9: Notify Carriers of Safe Drop Locations
Major carriers such as most permit you to set up safe drop locations via their delivery preference options. An out of street view side gate, backyard or covered porch drastically decreases visibility to passing thieves. These orders are sent along with your shipment and will automatically direct the courier to the appropriate destination. Also, leaving a note on your door instructing couriers to a certain location is a basic backup plan. It is free and it transfers packages off the noticeable, high-traffic areas where theft takes place most often.
Tip 10: Install a Smart Lock With Delivery Access
Smart locks can be used to provide temporary, one-time access codes to delivery personnel to access the house and drop off deliveries safely. There are even carriers that can deliver at home and provide services with smart locks in place. This implies that packages are delivered to your doorstep instead of lying on the porch or lobby floor. Moreover, the access log maintains records of the time of entry and exit of a courier to your property in order to be held fully responsible. In high value deliveries or frequent shoppers, this technology investment is easily recouped in saved losses and anxiety.
Tip 11: Report Theft Immediately and Consistently
When all the package steals are reported to the police and the carrier, documentation is created which is not limited to the single incident. When a claim is made via a carrier system with a police report to it, carriers frequently replace the stolen packages. Moreover, regular reporting can assist the police to detect patterns and focus resources within impacted neighborhoods. This is achieved by the apartment managers who monitor and document theft in an organized manner to make the case to the local police to be more prolific. Preventing package theft in the long-term is not only a matter of personal protection, but a reporting habit on the community level.
Tip 12: Hire Professional Security for Apartment Buildings
Professional security guards create a certain degree of deterrence and dynamic monitoring that is not achievable by technology only. As a result, the rate of package theft and other incidents related to professional security in buildings with visible professional security is reduced significantly. The question of how to stop package theft at the larger scale of residential buildings that have multi-units continues to refer to the solution of professional security as the most holistic solution.
FAQs
How to prevent package theft at an apartment building?
A combination of secure package lockers, security cameras that monitor the areas of delivery, and professional security guards offer the most holistic security services to multi- unit residential buildings.
What time of day do package thieves strike most often?
The majority of package theft is committed between 8 AM and 4 PM when the most packages are delivered and people are likely to be at work, not at home.
Will signature-anticipation serve as a deterrence to theft?
Yes, signature delivery does away with the unattended window that thieves rely on and signature delivery is one of the most effective personal prevention measures.
Should I report the theft of packages to the police?
Always make a report since it can assist in carrier claims, provides documentation of insurance and assists the police in recognizing the trends of theft in your neighborhood.
Do smart doorbells help to deter package thieves?
Video doorbells also keep many thieves who see cameras away and offer valuable footage to identify and claim theft in case of theft.
Conclusion
The issue of package theft in Los Angeles is becoming increasingly serious and requires both clever individual practices and professional measures. Prevention of package theft begins with easy measures such as scheduling the delivery, installing cameras; but goes to bigger measures in communities such as apartment buildings. West Coast Guard offers professional security services to apartment complexes and residential sites all year round in Los Angeles. To secure your building and your residents until all the holidays are over, call the West Coast Guard today.
